Welcome to Adventure Consultantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guided Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Touring! Our Private
Instruction Courses and Backcountry Touring trips offer flexibility in dates and trip duration, plus the
ability to outline the type of skills you would like to achieve in line with your future skiing or
snowboarding objectives. You can join as an individual for 1:1 personalised instruction, or put your own
group of like-minded companions together. A maximum 1:4 guide to client ratio applies.
Our trips will operate in Westland National Park,
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park or Aspiring National
Park, depending on where conditions are best. Each
has its own huge selection of glaciers, bowls and
peaks to explore while learning skills. We will be
based from one of the local mountain huts after
accessing the glaciers by helicopter or ski plane. This
allows us to start skiing the minute we get up each
morning.
We offer 5 to 10-day Private Instruction Courses or
Backcountry Touring trips and can arrange a longer
duration option on request.

Private Instructional & Private Guiding Based Programme
Our Private Instruction Programme enables us to work with you to design an appropriate and stimulating
course format. Whether you aspire to further your skill base in certain areas, such as Avalanche Awareness
or you require individual attention from your guide to develop skills at your own pace, Private Instruction
Courses are the best option.
We will spend as much time in the mountains as possible actually skiing, whilst developing skills. Initially,
we will develop and reinforce skills in a contained environment and move onto more challenging terrain
during the course if conditions permit.
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Skills that can be taught during the course can include the following – please be aware however that
factors such as weather and snow conditions may at times dictate that not all topics are covered in full:
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These courses are suitable for fit, motivated people who have a background in resort based skiing and
snowboarding and wish to extend their skills into the backcountry.

Backcountry Touring Options
Whether you ski or snowboard the backcountry touring options are endless! Come by yourself – or get a
group together – and fly into some of the most majestic ski and board terrain in the Southern Hemisphere!
This option is suitable for those experienced skiers and boarders who have a hankering for backcountry
turns with the benefits of a personalised guiding service.

Trip Outline
Your trip begins at 9.00 am on day one at the
Adventure Consultants Office in Wanaka.
Following the morning introductions, your
guide will present the trip syllabus outlining
how the trip will operate.
Equipment pertinent to the trip will be
discussed and you can get all the advice you
need concerning equipment from the guides.
Rental equipment will be fitted at this time and
final purchases can be made.
We then drive to our chosen destination
(between 1-3 hours), load up the helicopter or
plane and fly into the mountains. Leaving our gear in the hut, we’re off for a ski or board!
Each day, depending on conditions, you will be touring around the glaciers while doing workshops on
different aspects of ski and snowboard mountaineering techniques. A few turns are high on the list, as
well as a little time to take in your surroundings.
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At the end of the trip, we will make our way to a lower elevation and fly back to our vehicle (weather
permitting) with an approximate 5 pm finish on Friday.

Our Guides
Professional and experienced mountain guides run all of our trips and courses. Adventure Consultants
have a commitment to ensure the highest standard of instruction and guiding practices and we only
employ guides who share our philosophy. Our guides will offer you the best possible learning experience,
and a safe and enjoyable time. An open and helpful approach is encouraged within the group to help
communicate and reinforce the learning process.
Our guides are all NZMGA and/or IFMGA internationally qualified. They have been trained and assessed
through the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, and operate to the high standards and
guidelines set out by the Association.

Equipment
Skiing and climbing in winter in the New Zealand mountains requires good personal gear due to the
potential cold weather conditions. Our focus is on having the essential clothing and equipment, whilst
keeping pack weights as light as possible for your comfort and ease of travel.
Upon receipt of your deposit and registration form, we will send out a comprehensive equipment list. We
carry a good range of modern rental equipment. If you will be renting equipment from us please advise
your requirements in advance to ensure correct sizing and availability. If you intend on buying any
equipment items, we are happy to advise on recommended brands and models, and of key importance their suitability to the type of activity. We offer our clients discounted prices on a selection of climbing
equipment and clothing, and can arrange for the equipment to be available upon your arrival.
Your Guide will go through an equipment checklist with you prior to the trip. All group equipment will be
organised by your Guide. We have snowshoes available for rent for snowboarders or we can help you rent
a split board and climbing skins. For the skiers, we can help you rent specialised touring skis from local
outlets in the South Island.

Weather
Weather is an integral facet of any mountain range and getting to understand and work with this major
environmental factor is what will distinguish you from the others. The New Zealand weather can be fierce
but also benign. A climber who learns to optimise their opportunities here will have the skills to climb in
any other mountain environment on earth.

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Our ski mountaineering season runs from August through to December. Our experience with New Zealand
weather shows that August has more stable weather conditions, and in October the glaciers are ‘nice and
full’ (fewer crevasses) with longer days and warmer weather. Daylight hours are approximately 9 in
winter. Temperatures will drop to as low as –10° Celsius and could rise to as high as 15° Celsius.
On your course, it is probable that some adverse weather may affect our touring plans however we will
attempt to anticipate what best moves to make for the positive outcome of the course. If adverse weather
affects our access into the high mountains we can utilise the excellent backcountry skiing terrain
accessible around Wanaka with day trips until it improves.
Adventure Consultants reserves the right to cancel or alter the course at any time if the glaciers are not
in condition due to climatic influences, or if the mountain conditions are perceived by Adventure
Consultants as being too hazardous. However, we will, to the best of our ability, endeavour to find
alternative suitable touring venues in order for the course to take place.

Fitness & Health
To make the most of your skiing experience we encourage you to work on your fitness and
skiing/snowboarding prior to the trip. You need to be a strong intermediate skier or snowboarder to get
the most out of the trip. Your guide places special focus on fitness levels and will regulate the pace
accordingly.
Our registration form requests that you advise us of any medical problems you may have and if you are
on any medication. All information you supply will be treated as confidential.

Food
We place emphasis on providing nutritious meals and a good supply of snack food throughout the trip. If
you have any special dietary requirements, please advise us at the time of registration.

Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself in the case of
injury or mishap prior to/or whilst on our trips. This is usually available as an option when you purchase
your airfare.
Whilst our focus is on safety and our track record supports this, the mountains do have hazards and there
is always the potential for mishap.
If you were injured whilst on the trip the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) will pay
rescue costs, however, you would not be eligible for bulk compensation payments. You are responsible
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for any medical or evacuation costs beyond the cover provided by ACC. Hence it is worth getting travel
insurance for your trip.

Travel to Wanaka
We commence the Guided Backcountry Skiing trip from our base in Wanaka. Air New Zealand and
Qantas/Jetstar provide daily services for flights from Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington to
Queenstown. There are also direct international flights from most major Australian cities to Queenstown.
A shuttle service operates several times daily between Queenstown and Wanaka (approximately one hour
driving time and at a cost from $35 each way), check http://www.alpineconnexions.co.nz for details. Bus
services operate daily between Christchurch and Wanaka (approximately 6 hours travel time).
Wanaka has a range of accommodation from backpackers, youth hostels, motels, and hotels to luxury
lodges. We are happy to assist with your accommodation and bus transfer arrangements.

Trip Accommodation
Adventure Consultants will provide your accommodation while the course is running which is from 9.00am
on Day 1 until 5.00pm on the last day of your trip. All food and accommodation outside this time will be
at your expense. When in the mountains you will stay in mountain huts with shared bunkrooms and basic
facilities. There are no single rooms available and unlike European huts, you need to provide your own
sleeping bag. Some mountain nights may be spent in tents or bivvies where you will be more exposed to
the elements, but the final decision on this will be made by the guides after weighing up all the factors.
For overnights in Fox Glacier and Aoraki Mount Cook villages you will be accommodated in dormitory style
Alpine Club huts and in Wanaka, dormitory style backpackers with shared bathroom facilities. You may
decide to upgrade to single accommodations in Wanaka at your own expense, should you require.

Course Registration & Payment
In order to confirm a place on the course, we require a completed Registration Form and a NZ$1,000.
The balance of payment is then due 60 days prior to the start date.
All payments should be made by bank transfer to the following bank and account:
Bank:
For the account of:
Account number:
Account Type:

We can also accept your deposit and balance payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Amex) plus a
3% card transaction fee.
Please note that in order to reserve a place on a course we recommend that you book well in advance.

Course Cancellation Policy
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Cancellations outside of 60 days incur a NZ$250 cancellation/admin fee.
For cancellations made within 60 days of the trip commencement date, we reserve the right to
retain 50% of the full fee.
For cancellations made within 30 days of the trip commencement date, we reserve the right to
retain 75% of the full fee.
For cancellations within 15 days of the departure date a cancellation fee of 100% of the full fee
applies.

We recommend you take out trip cancellation insurance via your travel agent.

Adventure Consultants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is affiliated to the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA), New Zealand Alpine Club
(NZAC) and a corporate member of the American Alpine Club (AAC). Adventure Consultants perform to IFMGA/UIAGM standards
and are world leaders in high altitude guiding.
All material Copyright ÂŠ Adventure Consultants Ltd 2019